'Veterans should be able to come home to the country they fought for and expect to have a place to live, a job' (Guest column)

From left; Clarence Jackson, Ruthy Guillen, Gabi Gomez and Liliana Guerrero stuff backpacks with books while helping stuff book bags for Kent County homeless students at the Kent Intermediate School District in November.Matt Gade | MLive.com

Reid H. Orchard is a Central Michigan University Student.

Orchard, 20, graduated from East Kentwood High in 2010 and is majoring in outdoor and environmental education and minoring in natural resources.

But he’s interested in helping the homeless, and was surprised to learn so many veterans have fallen on hard times.

By Reid H. Orchard

I recently volunteered with a fellow group of Young Life members in an effort to clean up the litter-filled streets of downtown Grand Rapids.

Our original plan for the day was to venture along the streets of Grand Rapids picking up trash in an effort to make it a more desirable place to reside. However, while volunteering that day I discovered something; there is a much larger issue that we, Grand Rapids natives, need to be aware of and to make an effort to establish a heightened awareness about, throughout our community.

Anyone who has served to protect this country should at least be guaranteed a suitable place to reside. It is your responsibility as well mine and the community’s to provide the appropriate resources to veterans so they can easily and quickly attain a suitable living situation for them and their family if needed.

We began our clean up under the “s-curve,” near the Rapid bus station and made our way east toward Division Avenue. As we walked past Heartside Park, we noticed several people who appeared to be homeless. We didn’t think much of it but we would soon realize, it is a much larger issue than just a few people here and there.

Reid OrchardCourtesy photo

None of us were prepared for what was waiting as we approached the corner of Division and Cherry Street. There were more than 60 people that were there trying to find anything to do to get through another day as a homeless person in Grand Rapids.

The natural curiosity in all of us arose as we had developed a new plan for the day. We decided to take this opportunity to not only get to know a few of them but to ask questions to try and reveal events that occurred in their life that resulted ultimately in them having to call an ally way or a city park their home. What we discovered that day was shocking.

James, in particular, had a story that put a new anger and passion in all of our hearts. As we went on conversing I learned that he had served several tours overseas in Iraq.
I then eased my way into asking him my main question: How does someone who risked their life to protect our country end up homeless with no money, no food, and sleeping on a park bench?

His response blew my mind. He began to explain that while he was overseas he was not able to pay his bills necessary to keep his home.

When he returned he said that what he thought was his home, was already occupied by a couple and their son. The bank had foreclosed his house and sold it without his knowledge.

He then explained that he was unable to find a job because he had an injury from his duty that hindered the mobility of his arms and legs. He simply said, “Nobody wants a crippled person as a paid employee.” I found that shocking, and I’m certain I am not the only one who finds this hard to believe.

How can someone who put their life on the line to protect the people in this country, including employers, not be able to find a job? This issue needs to be addressed rapidly. This should never be a problem of any war veteran, injured or not.

We, as citizens, need to make more of an effort to make this issue a top priority in our community. Veterans should be able to come home to the country they fought for and fully expect to have a place to live and a paying job, even if it is a temporary one to get them started.

I recommend you yourself take a trip down to the streets of Grand Rapids and see the staggering amount of not just any homeless, but war veterans in particular who lost everything while fighting for the freedom of all of us.

Ask questions and get to know them on a more personal level. Take what you learn from this and make an effort to spread awareness all over the city as well as the state, the actions needed to make sure things like this are not even a thought in one’s mind.

I promise you and anyone willing, it will be an eye-opening and life-changing experience if you can find it in your heart to listen to the individuals for yourself and really hear their story.